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About the Business Forum

The 4th SDG Business Forum will take place at the United Nations Headquarters
​in New York on 25 September 2019.  The Business Forum provides a unique multi-stakeholder platform to support business action and partnerships to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – fostering public-private dialogues, catalysing new partnerships and alliances, and exploring innovative business solutions to accelerate sustainable development. 

​The Business Forum will be held during the UN’s 2019 SDG Summit which will be held under the theme of:  “The SDGs... Turning Promises into Reality."

​2019 Outline Agenda

7:30 - 9:30	SDG Solutions Immersive Breakfast*
10:00 – 10:30	Introduction The opening to this year’s business forum will turn the traditional UN event introduction on its head. The Master of Ceremonies will ask each of the hosting organization representatives one question that will allow them to demonstrate their dedication to the SDGs.
10:30 – 11:30	Panel 1: Sustainable Financing for 2030 Some of the world's largest corporations are increasingly vocal about the SDGs. What implications does this positioning have on corporate strategies and business models? What steps can companies take to tangibly integrate the SDGs into their financing, operational processes and internal decision-making? What incentives are needed for investors and companies to expand their investments in emerging and frontier markets? How can governments and investors support a shift towards SDG-aligned business models? Can MNCs help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to fund their plans for SDG adoption?
11:30 – 12:00	Short Conversation: The Future of Business This section will be a boundary-pushing Davos-style interview exploring where the participants think business is headed in 2030 and beyond.
12:00 – 1:00	Panel 2: Scaling Ambition While the SDGs have provided a framework for governments to improve the livelihoods of their citizens, and the Global Compact has tracked business engagement with its ten principles, we must acknowledge that there is still so much work to be done. Business and Industry stakeholders must do their part to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Panel 2 will highlight those companies that have gone “above and beyond” the call of duty. Whether they have eliminated modern slavery in their supply chains, invested in the adoption of sustainable technologies, or promoted gender equality in the workplace, the speakers during this panel will be leaders in their field who are working to go the extra mile.

* Ticketed.

2018 Featured Speakers

	H.E. Marie Chatardová President of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Czech Republic to the United Nations		H.E Miroslav Lajčák President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 72nd Session
	H.E. Amina Mohamed Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations		Liu Zhenmin Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
	Lise Kingo CEO and Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact		John W.H. Denton AO Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce
	Erik Solheim Executive Director, United Nations Programme		Guy Ryder Director General, International Labour Organization
	David Auerbach Co-Founder, Sanergy		Kamaljeet Bhatia CEO, Pumpkart
	Jean-Pierre Clamadieu CEO, Solvay		Amy Jadesimi CEO, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL)
	Kimmo Tiilikainen Environment Minister, Finland Government		Lars Linden CEO, Ragn-Sells
	David W. MacLennan CEO, Cargill		Thato Moagi CEO, LeGae La Banareng Farms
	Sylvia Mulinge CEO, Vodacom Tanzania		Sunny Verghese CEO and Co-Founder, Olam International; Chair, World Business Council for Sustainable Development
	Adnan Ahmed Yousif President, CEO and Director, Al Baraka Banking Group B.S.C.		David Croft Global Sustainability Director, Diageo
	Karin Finkelston Vice President of Partnerships, Communications and Outreach, International Finance Corporation		Masaya Futamiya Executive Chairman, Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance
	Martha Herrera Gonzalez Global Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, CEMEX		Lena Hök Senior Vice President Green & Community Investment, Skanska
	Octavio Ibarra Dean of Business School, Universidad del Norte, Colombia		Jerry Kaminski Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Land O’Lakes
	Maria de Lourdes Nunes Head of Corporate Sustainability, Boticário Group Foundation		Rebecca Marmot Global Vice President – Sustainability, Advocacy & Partnerships, Unilever
	Halima Murunga Chief Business Development Officer, Wonderkid		Femi Oke International Journalist and Broadcaster, Senior Host of Al Jazeera English
	Luiz Eduardo Osorio Executive Director for Sustainability and Institutional Relations, Vale		Pierre Victoria Vice President of Sustainable Development, Veolia
	Mark Watts Executive Director, C40 Cities		Steve Waygood Chief Responsible Investments Officer, Aviva Investors
	Luis Alberto Atala Executive Vice-President of Ficohsa Financial Group (Grupo Financiero Ficohsa)		Tania Cosentino President South America, Schneider-Electric
	H.E. Doris Leuthard Federal Councillor, Swiss Confederation		Roberto Marques Executive Chairman, Natura
	H.E. Luis Fernando Mejia Minister of National Planning, Government of Colombia		H.E. Senida Mesi Deputy Prime Minister, Government of Albania
	H.E. Yoka Brandt Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands		Agustín Delgado Martín Chief, Innovation & Sustainability, Iberdrola
	Michael Nolan Director, Cities Programme, UN Global Compact		Anne Gadegaard Associate Director, Corporate Sustainability, Novo Nordisk
	Karine Rouge President, Suez North America		Antonia Stroeh Senior Vice President, Public Private Partnerships, Mastercard
	Rose Christine Ossouka Mayor of Libreville		Gavin Power Chief Sustainability Officer, PIMCO
	Jane Nelson Director of the Corporate Responsibility Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School		Brian Griffith Chairman, Griffith Foods
	Xhelal Danaj Relikaj Ltd		Cristiana Paşca Palmer Executive Secretary, The Convention on Biological Diversity
	Dorothea Schuetz Deputy Director, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Germany		Ricardo Dueñas Chief Executive Office, Ekos
	Gualter Crisostomo Head of Corporate Governance, CEiiA		Adriana Leles Special Advisor to the CEO, SANASA
	Hermance De La Bastide Head of Public Affairs, Pernaud Ricard

Highlights from Business Forum

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​News​ 
SDG Business Forum urged to do business responsibly and accelerate sustainable development

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